Route 21 Website1
Framework for 21st Century Teaching and Learning 3
Framework for 21st Century Teaching and Learning 3

(Use this resource to learn more about the themes/skills addressed on this page.)

Key Elements for a 21st Century Education

A. Core Subjects

  • English, reading or language arts
  • World languages
  • Arts
  • Mathematics
  • Economics
  • Science
  • Geography
  • History
  • Government and Civics

B. 21st Century Themes
(In addition to mastery of the core subjects, teachers should not only focus on basic competency of the subject but understanding content on a higher level incorporating 21st century themes into the core subject content.)
  • Global Awareness
  • Financial, Economic, Business and Entrepreneurial Literacy
  • Civic Literacy
  • Health Literacy
  • Environmental Literacy

C. 21st Century Student Outcomes

(Skills, knowledge and expertise students should master to succeed in work and life in the 21st century.)
  • Learning and Innovation Skills
    • Creativity and Innovation
      • Think Creatively
      • Work creatively with others
      • Implement Innovations
    • Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
      • Reason effectively
      • Use systems thinking
      • Make judgments and decisions
      • Solve Problems
    • Communication and Collaboration
      • Communicate Clearly
      • Collaborate with others
  • Information, Media and Technology Skills
    • Information Literacy
      • Access and evaluate information
      • Use and manage information
    • Media Literacy
      • Analyze media
      • Create media products
    • ICT (Information, Communications, & Technology) Literacy
      • Apply technology effectively
  • Life and Career Skills
    • Flexibility and adaptability
      • Adapt to change
      • Be flexible
    • Initiative and Self-Direction
      • Manage goals and time
      • Work independently
      • Be self-directed learners
    • Social and Cross-Cultural Skills
      • Interact effectively with others
      • Work effectively in diverse teams
    • Productivity and accountability
      • Manage projects
      • Produce results
    • Leadership and Responsibility
      • Guide and lead others
      • Be responsible to others

D. 21st Century Assessments

Should be authentic and measure core content and 21st century skills

Snapshots - View videos on how 21st Century Skills are being taught and learned in classrooms



Partnership for 21st Century Skills Website2
(Use this resource to learn more. This site also contains many tools and resources)
Video21 - P21 collection of videos - What 21st Century education looks like



Essential 21st Century Skills For Students
4
Accountability and Adaptability—Exercising personal responsibility and flexibility in personal, workplace, and community contexts; setting and meeting high standards and goals for one's self and others; tolerating ambiguity

Communication Skills—Understanding, managing, and creating effective oral, written, and multimedia communication in a variety of forms and contexts

Creativity and Intellectual Curiosity—Developing, implementing, and communicating new ideas to others; staying open and responsive to new and diverse perspectives

Critical Thinking and Systems Thinking—Exercising sound reasoning in understanding and making complex choices; understanding the interconnections among systems

Information and Media Literacy Skills—Analyzing, accessing, managing, integrating, evaluating, and creating
information in a variety of forms and media

Interpersonal and Collaborative Skills—Demonstrating teamwork and leadership; adapting to varied roles and
responsibilities; working productively with others; exercising empathy; respecting diverse perspectives

Problem Identification, Formulation, and Solution—Ability to frame, analyze, and solve problems

Self-Direction—Monitoring one's own understanding and learning needs; locating appropriate resources; transferring
learning from one domain to another

Social Responsibility—Acting responsibly with the interests of the larger community in mind; demonstrating ethical
behavior in personal, workplace, and community contexts



1Source: Route 21 (http://www.p21.org/route21/index.php)
2Source: Partnership for 21st Century Skills (www.21stcenturyskills.org
3Rainbow Framework Graphic used with permission from the Partnership for 21st Century Skills
4Source: Intel Teach Program Essentials Course Version 10 - Used with permission by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills

Written Permission to use materials was granted by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills.

The Partnership for 21st Century Skills is a national organization that advocates for 21st century readiness for every student. As the United States continues to compete in a global economy that demands innovation, P21 and its members provide tools and resources to help the U.S. education system keep up by fusing the three Rs and four Cs (critical thinking and problem solving, communication, collaboration, and creativity and innovation).